1963 station wagon

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

The bigger question is whether the short deck was specified for the conversion. It's difficult to imagine a short deck model would have been selected at random...

[russ austin]

Since the conversion was at the time of the cars birth, it's a forgivable and cool conversion. It probably fits the length of the new roof and was chosen just for that.  Now to part out a 63 Park Avenue today would be foolish.

[jwwseville60]

The elderly man I met in 2017 at the VA Caddy Nats told me there were two 1963 Caddies that were converted in NJ. Both were brand new.
He worked for Winthorpe Rockefeller and drove both cars he said.
I have this guy's name written down somewhere.

[Jason Edge]

John, I would really love to do a full cover feature of this car in our 1963/64 Cadillac Chapter newsletter. In fact we could do a 3 Part Segment: 1) The way you received it and include some history of the car 2) In Progress Upgrades/Restoration (current status) and 3) The Finished Product. 

For you or any of our Chapter members all I need to do a full cover feature is 8 to 12 good pictures, 500 words or more of text covering any angle of the car (i.e. history, restoration, car event, etc).  You can of course include much more as we have run some really nice in-depth feature stories over the years.  At a minimum we have got to do a cover feature once it is complete!  I love the color and love what you are doing with it. You started with an interesting Caddy Wagon but this is really going to be nice.

I have a feature Caddy for our next newsletter due out around May 1, but any month after that is open right now.
If and when you want to do a feature, shoot me some pics and write-up to jasonedge@nc.rr.com   

[jwwseville60]

63 Park Ave in blue.

[jwwseville60]

First test drive at White Post Restorations.
Still needs a few things done.
Dusty and dirty.

 

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Wow!  I love it even more than I did before the resto!

[jwwseville60]

By the way, FYI.
This is the only other 1963 station wagon I can find that exists today. It sold at auction 3 years ago and has a Chevy roof.

[jwwseville60]

Almost done.
We had to locate a new 429 block and do another rebuild. (.30 over).
Ported heads with 3 angle job are fine. We swapped them on.
It's running well.
The outsourced engine shop ruined the last block when they bored it, thus it burned serious oil.
The shop is now kaput.

[jwwseville60]

Its been a 4 year Odyssey, but it got done.
See you all at the Gettysburg NATS.Ill be in the "display only" section.

The funky gizmo is a battery voltage sensor. The 175 amp alternator charges both, but if one battery fails the other can be switched on by an under dash switch.
The 2 x AC systems work on one switch, but I needed more power to be safe.
In the cargo bay we added a bar for the air returns so that luggage wont block it.

Ive kept everything as period correct as I could.
Cheers!
JWW

[jwwseville60]

More pics.
Leather by Jenkins.
Alcantara headliner.
In line fuel chiller that runs off the AC. A GM commercial van part I was told.
Matching briefcase by Swaine Adeney Brigg. Hey, Im a nerd!
Blanket for my wife who gets cold in winter and summer!

[D. Mailan]

Wow!

An amazing build/restoration! I just scrolled through this thread and this car is absolutely amazing! The details, color, and just everything are done to the T. The battery "gizmo" is really cool, not to mention a 175 amp alternator should be more than sufficient to power the gadgets on this beauty.

Happy motoring!
Derick

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I loved her at 17 GN as is but wow...you did an amazing job on her.

[jwwseville60]

Thanks!!